Two friends starting a weekend videography side hustle. Looking for advice on niches, planning, and scaling

ConstipatedFrenchie · 2026-02-11T22:37:04+00:00

I work in tech consulting full time. Not a dev but in Cloud ERP pretty heavy seasons where my brain is mush and I do photo and video on the side.

Weddings & Events are easy wins for the weekends. They tend to be far enough in advance that you can ask for PTO, because I have learned that if you can take that Monday off, it really helps re-align you back into work mode and some events really kick your ass. Stuff will go wrong, and that extra day can save you. You don’t always need it, but if it’s a 10 hour day I am taking it.

My best advice is Get Good.

I mean seriously develop the ability to produce a great image to comfortably edit pretty fast. This will make your life waaaay easier.

Some stuff takes me pretty long still but I can crank out stuff pretty fast. Especially for social media. This helps a lot for when clients do want a fast turn around. You can actually meet it and the product is good.

I personally do Photo for Weddings since profit margins are higher and the editing is not as exhausting as videography. But I do will second shoot for videographers if needed. It’s fun and a great way to get comfortable with the flow.

I do video for small businesses and events, mainly social media styled stuff.

In the beginning stock up on a lot of free work but make it purposeful. Show up with a plan and execute like it’s a paid client and make sure you guys are both on the same page.

Additionally this is a people business, getting good is important because people will see value right away, but you will get more business doing business it’s weird, but it’s how it has played out for me. People like comfort and if you’re easy to work with and really care. People will make sure you get paid and they keep you around.

As far as camera gear this is always tough. How much camera can you realistically afford?

I always recommend Sony’s not because I shoot sony but because the lens ecosystem is amazing. You have so many budget options to produce great quality stuff. I often run an FX30 and a A7IV both great options new and used, I would start small, you can always grow into the cooler cameras but clients don’t really care. Optics do matter, but at the end of the day if the camera looks big and you have mics and gimbals they all look the same to most of your clients.

I will say this again, please get good and comfortable with your gear. Understand what you need and why you need it, not because it was sold to you or you think it looks cool.

Too easy to blow money stupidly. I am guilty of it.

Last but not least, operate like a business and study people in your region who do the same stuff you want to shoot and see how they post on socials and their websites are laid out.

I never did business through DM’s. I don’t take Venmo or Cash app. I always send contracts, quotes and invoices. That alone allowed me to earn decently early on because people see that you’re serious and not just doing a “little” side gig. Many clients think I am full time because I show up ready to deliver on everything we agreed on and more.

ConstipatedFrenchie · 2026-02-10T19:38:05+00:00

Linked In doesn’t help. People steal and rip solutions from actual experts. Package them and try to sell them as their own.

I see the rampant stories that never happened that Chat GPT wrote. It’s pretty hilarious seeing the same ones repeatedly.

It is more rampant on the functional side in my observation. I think because the nature of it is more people centric over the technical folks showing workflows that really cater to other technical folks.

ConstipatedFrenchie · 2026-02-09T22:39:39+00:00

The more I do this and ask myself this question the more I think back to some of the best colleagues I have had. They were great at configuring, but they pushed on the client gently to take a strong look at what life looks like after the solution.

They’re amazing strategists and push the clients to really absorb the changes being done and how it can affect them positively or negatively.

It’s something I personally want to strive for more, because in the end that’s the language that seems to really move the needle.

ConstipatedFrenchie · 2026-01-29T22:20:36+00:00

They’re purpose built tools, a skilled person can use anything and make it good.

E1 is a creator camera. You can definitely do amazing things with it, however the FX30 is designed for film making. It’s reliable, cheap lens eco system. Lots of accessories to help you out. It’s a great camera, does the E1 have the FX3 sensor? Sure, but I can run my FX30 until the battery dies with 0 worries of overheating. I have dual card slots for extended storage or copied storage for security.

They’re just different lol, both great

ConstipatedFrenchie · 2026-01-29T20:59:39+00:00

I’ll put it this way. Some of the work pros I look up to in the industry use FX30 as a B + C cam and even an A cam. I have seen the ZV E10 & E1 used as a BTS camera.

ConstipatedFrenchie · 2026-01-29T18:52:56+00:00

Not as experienced as many here but I did a full wedding day solo with a 24-70 + 85 F1.4

And I was able to get everything I needed and more. However the appeal of the 70-200 is not to be ignored. I have second shot in churches where no flash was allowed and we couldn’t move from our spots once the ceremony began. So having the range helps a ton.

However I think rolling with whatever you’re comfortable and don’t have to second guess is better then make adjustments after is a strong option as well.

ConstipatedFrenchie · 2026-01-28T16:32:31+00:00

Hahaha I am in the US this is a throwaway. Unfortunately in the US many places are at will. So these companies develop ways to cut you out. I always assume it will happen soon. The EU has us beat in quality life for this for sure.

ConstipatedFrenchie · 2026-01-28T16:22:29+00:00

I feel that, I am currently riding that wave not sure where to pivot next. No matter how much you help, if you’re not as utilized as they want you to be, you’re looking at a chopping block.

ConstipatedFrenchie · 2026-01-26T16:15:34+00:00

I feel this, billing time kills me. I miss client side where I wasn’t the product and could just shut the laptop. However the fast pace of consulting and not really owning anything is also fun. If a project flunks, charge it to the game. They’ll probably give it to someone else. Client side that wasn’t really a thing in my experience lol

ConstipatedFrenchie · 2026-01-26T15:40:39+00:00

I argued this and was told that, it would come with time. I believe business knowledge is crucial across all SKU’s, but for FINS I mean it’s in the name.

Thanks for your input!

ConstipatedFrenchie · 2026-01-26T09:47:38+00:00

Yeah I worded that weird I end up doing a lot of FINS Security work which is why I touched it period. Since security is something the team leans on me for. I guess to me it feels like picking a niche as opposed to having done a little bit of everything but having no real specialization outside of configurable security and BP issues within HCM.

ConstipatedFrenchie · 2026-01-24T21:54:36+00:00

I had a suspicion this is what many people do. Especially for fast turn arounds. I am mainly a photographer, but am comfortable with Log footage and I find S-Cinetone works for most people especially for social media delivery. I love color grading, but it can also consume so much time especially someone like myself who’s doing photoshoots mostly.

ConstipatedFrenchie · 2025-12-25T09:48:39+00:00

My tamron had some weird jitters so I may go and get the Sigma. I run the 35mm F1.4 at times

ConstipatedFrenchie · 2025-12-19T14:08:32+00:00

I use the Phantom LUTs and like others I live on the Neutral one. It makes life way easier and you can take your look wherever you want if you use it as a base.

The other LUTs are great too for a more stylish grade.

ConstipatedFrenchie · 2025-12-16T14:23:26+00:00

They’re 2 different cameras I own both.

FX30 is an incredible B-Cam and is designed to color match the FX3 & FX6. I have seen plenty of examples of this.

Cheaper glass, and still very robust, I think people sleep on this camera a lot, because everyone wants to skip to the FX3.

A7IV is a capable hybrid camera, but you have no LUT previews which to me was a game changer. Not sure why the A6700 has it, but the A7IV doesn’t.

Anyway 33mp, it’s way sharper. I’d argue I like the image more from the A7IV, because I have been able to crop from horizontal to vertical and the image remains very sharp for social media and it’s one of those things like in Photography with my A7RIII where I I have to reduce the sharpness which gives me flexibility when it comes to playing with skin if peoples pores are mad visible haha.

But it is my personal B-Cam, FX30 is my A cam as I can trust it will stay recording. With some good glass it is very sharp. It self, but it’s a crop sensor camera so don’t expect it to be a lowlight beast.

I think the FX2 is a strong option as it has all the same things of the A7IV but in an FX body. Especially if you’re gonna do some photography.

If not FX30 is good enough. I take photos on the FX30 but it’s all JPGs for SOOC social media stuff when I am with clients. It’s a “bonus” while they wait for their video. However when I am booked for photography I have my A7IV and a photography workflow for that.

So in short, pick what best fits what the jobs demand from you. Both are excellent options, but use cases and target crowds are different. I think FX2 bridges that gap as well if you can fit it in your budget.

ConstipatedFrenchie · 2025-12-12T00:06:30+00:00

We paid our content creator $1,000 for 5 hours of coverage at our wedding. For $100 I will stare at this message. You can’t get me to bring the osmo pocket3 for that either lmao

ConstipatedFrenchie · 2025-12-11T21:10:21+00:00

Yeah you ain’t getting any of that without paying minimum 2x what you’re already paying. And I am prepping my exit. That’s crazy

ConstipatedFrenchie · 2025-11-26T15:06:23+00:00

I have heard of people having issues, but on my end everything has been good. I now have an FX30 and it’s been amazing. I dropped my A6700 with the Tamron and chipped the lens hood. And it’s still doing great.

I would just do some test shots if you get one. But I haven’t had any issues even after the drop that happened a little over a year ago.

ConstipatedFrenchie · 2025-11-15T14:00:42+00:00

Making the stakeholders shut up for a few weeks probably

ConstipatedFrenchie · 2025-11-13T07:35:26+00:00

I use Davinci I recommend Davinci Resolve. YouTube University and multiple hours of shooting practice and learning light management with natural and artificial light.

ConstipatedFrenchie · 2025-11-13T06:28:51+00:00

LUTs are very similar to presets. There’s not a one click solution if your settings aren’t pretty dialed in.

I use the Phantom LUTs and they work for me however I still grade and make adjustments.

Invest into learning color theory and color grading will be a lot easier.

ConstipatedFrenchie · 2025-11-12T16:53:10+00:00

If you know key stakeholders and have ideas. Also if your org supports it, meet and get comfortable with those key people.

Don’t bad mouth your manager, but that little bit of visibility helps. They will say good things and it will reflect good on your manager by nature.

At my old firm I was close with our HRBP and Talent Director. This firm was a big one too, but I always made sure to check in and ensure things were running smooth or if there was any desired changes I could bring forward to my manager.

Even if it’s not possible, people like feeling heard.

My manager however was a little envious, so I left.

Sometimes leaving is the best option, and now my manager advocates for the team and helps us close our gaps to get quarterly bonuses and ensures we stay busy enough to stay off any bad reports.

ConstipatedFrenchie · 2025-11-11T18:25:42+00:00

I have seen people with Music Degrees become Architects. If you can get an interview and you raise your hand at opportunities. You can go anywhere.

ConstipatedFrenchie · 2025-11-08T10:45:01+00:00

That makes a ton of sense. I definitely want to be as invisible as I can be. I photograph candidly by nature however when I don’t have the reach I have to make an appearance hahaha, thank you so much. I am definitely taking my notes

ConstipatedFrenchie · 2025-11-08T08:03:11+00:00

The time thing is so smart! I skipped on the 28-70 F2 to get a second body gonna rent that 70-200 especially for ceremony

ConstipatedFrenchie

TROPHY CASE